My university only has a couple of disabled parking spots and they are always filled up by cars without a disabled person permit. I’ve complained several times to the university but nothing seems to be getting done. I am having a lot of trouble getting to my lectures. I live in the ACT. What can I do?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Kate Dodgson of [author’s firm]:
- This raises issues of disability discrimination.
- It sounds as though your university is not taking your complaint seriously so it is time to take this to the Human Rights and Disability Commissioner.
- Your university will probably want to resolve this matter in conciliation as they are unlikely to want any bad publicity or to waste the time and expense of going to a tribunal or court.
- At conciliation you could propose that the university:
- provides directions to students to not use disabled parking spots,
- provides parking monitors to ensure the parking bays are used correctly, and
- perhaps issues a fine for people parking illegally.